RETIRED firefighter Stephen Cole is asking people to look back through time to help catch the thieves who stole items from his Dr Who Tardis.

Mr Cole, who lives with wife Judy on the High Street, Worton, has a mock up that he made himself of the TV time machine his front garden.

But on March 17, between 9.30am and 5pm, thieves stole a glass tube and lights from inside it as well as trying to remove a battery.

Although they are not valuable Mr Cole is trying to recover the items as the glass tube was a vase belonging to his late mother, Mary Cole, who died last year.

He said: “I can’t understand why anyone would take it as the glass and lights are not valuable, replacement would cost around £50.

“It would mean a great deal me to get the glass back as it was something that my mother always had on her windowsill.

“Luckily the battery was not taken as there is a knack to removing it and it seems the person gave up.”

Mr Cole, 60, made the mock up time machine last Christmas for his daughter’s wedding as something for the children and young bridesmaids to play in.

The 7ft high Tardis took him about two weeks to make and is just one of his many projects.

He said: “I’m not a massive Doctor Who fan I just like to make things. Other things I have made include a pizza oven and a thatched hut.

“People especially children love the Tardis and I have taken it to several events, including a primary school in Bradford on Avon, along with many people knocking on my door to ask about it.”

Mr Cole has said if the items are not recovered then he will have to rebuild the inside of the wooden structure, and hopes the theft won’t happen again.

He said: “The police have suggested putting a lock on it but if someone tries to do this again they would end up damaging the whole Tardis.”

Sergeant Vincent Logue, of the Devizes Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This offence took place during the daytime and, as the Tardis is in a prominent position and visible from the main road, we ask anyone who was travelling through Worton on March 17 that saw anything suspicious to call us.”

If you have any information about this crime ring Devizes Police on 101 or alternatively contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111, where information can be left anonymously if preferred.